The Green Dragon is an
automated ground launcher designed and engineered for
use in forestry and wildfire management applications
such as back burns or prescribed burning. It is a brand
new concept for ground ignition applications using CO2
or compressed air as a propellant and a simple
electrically driven reciprocating feed and firing
system. The Green Dragon can be successfully mounted on
several ground-based platforms including trucks, boats,
ATVs and UTVs.
The Green Dragon allows
operators to control both range and speed delivery of
Dragon Eggs, offering variable firing speeds capable of
delivering up to 40 Dragon Eggs per minute. The machine
mounts can be adjusted for both azimuth and elevation,
allowing the operator to shoot spheres up to 225 feet
(70 metres) in a 180° radius. Fire ignition operators no
longer need to walk into difficult terrain with a drip
torch and be exposed to potential risk of entrapment.
Utilizing the same Dragon Egg ignition spheres as the
helicopter-deployed Red Dragon and the Pyroshot hand
launcher, the Green Dragon allows operators to launch
fire ignition spheres from roads, trails, control lines
and other established safety zones.
Successful beta-test
field trials were conducted in the USA, Canada and
Australia in 2009/10 with several agencies evaluating
the performance of the Green Dragon. The valuable
feedback received from end users in North America and
Australia resulted in modifications and improvements
towards the final product. Demand for the Green Dragon
has been significant to date and early orders were
received when the first production run began in August
2010.
The Green Dragon
represents the newest addition to technology currently
available to the controlled and prescribed burning
community.
